Michigan Gov. Snyder haunted by ed funding cuts

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Dive Brief:

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's 2011 decision to cut $930 million in education spending is coming back to haunt him as he seeks re-election.

The education bill in question, signed by Snyder after it was passed by a Republican-controlled Legislature, but a chunk of that year's funding included "one-time" funds to assist with retirement costs and $100-per-pupil grants (costing around $455 million total) and $316 million in one-time federal aid.

Snyder is countering his Democratic challenger, Mark Schauer, by citing a $1.1 billion increase to state education money, which he has direct control over, since he took office —​ though, as The Detroit News reports, $783 million of that is meant to pay for school employee retirement costs.

Dive Insight:

Also under fire by Schaurer: Snyder's decision to cut the Michigan Business Tax. Doing so was reportedly projected in 2011 to cost the state $600 million in school aid each year (and $1.8 billion in total tax revenue). Schaurer also points to Snyder's use of $400 million from the School Aid Fund for public higher ed institutions to once again arrive at a $1 billion loss of funding for K-12 public education in the state.

Regardless of how or whether numbers are being twisted by either side, the focus on them does make one thing clear: Education is set to become an even bigger point of contention than it already is in the nation's politics.